Projectile buffer



April 30, 1957 F. wARLlcK 2,790,358

PROJECTILEABUFFER.

Filed Sept. 28, 1950 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 April 30, 1957 F. wARLlcK PROJECTILE BUFFER 2 She'ets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 28, 1950 INVENTOR.

FRANK WARLICK United' States Patent PROIECTILE BUFFER Frank Warlick, Washington, D. C.

Application September 28, 1950, Serial No. 187,340

1 Claim. (Cl. 89-45) (Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952), sec.` 266) This invention pertains to a hydraulic buffing device and more particularly to a hydraulic device having a unit thereof adapted to receive and absorb a rapidly applied shock or impact and to thereafter return the shock absorbing unit of lthe device to a predetermined position with respect to the housing thereof. A preferred embodiment of this invention is well adapted for use as a projectile bufng means in a gun slide assembly of a ty-pe adapted for handling and loading ammunition increments and more particularly increments for large bore guns.

An example of an application to which this device may be adapted is shown and described in the copending application to Philias H. Girouard et al., Serial No. 153,262, led March 31, 1950.

Prior art bufng assemblies generally are, for example, of a type shown in the above mentioned copending application, as used on the powder case assembly thereof for bung the powder case as it is received within the powder transfer tray. lThe projectile bufling means and projectile positioning device of this invention is provided for the purpose `of returningl the projectile to a position in the transfer trays such as to prevent interference with other elements on the gun -slide as the projectile is moved by its transfer tray from the ammunition receiving position of the tray at the side of the slide to a ramming position in axial alignment with the gun bore. The positioning action of the buter in moving the projectile to a predetermined position in the transfer tray is desirable in a gun handling system of the character wherein the gun may be loaded at any angle of elevation. It is especially desirable in any system where the transfer tray moves with its contained projectile in an interrelated path with respect to the transfer tray for the powder case which is to be moved simultaneously therewith, and additionally when both trays ane to be moved into axial alignment. As hereinabovestated, the conventional buffers, characterized, for example, by the hereinrecited powder case bning device, are merely hydraulic shock absorbing elements. They do not inherently possess the additional advantage of being able to move the projectile by the return stroke thereof to a position forwardly of the position of impartation of the impact blow. Y

This special projectile bung device comprises a cylinder body, a pressure operated piston and a spring return element of the conventional type assemblies. The .assembly additionally includes a control valve which is hydraulically connected to a suitable valve device such, for example, as the sequence valve block shown and described in the copending application to David Wertman, Serial No. 502,536, tiled April 19, 1955, and is adapted for inclusion in such a hydraulic control system as disclosed therein. Connected to such aV uid circuit this sequence valve arrangement is adapted to maintain the butiing device full of hydraulic duid at tank pressure when the projectile tray is in the load receiving position,

hereinafter designated as the ring position. When the j ice j transfer tray control valve shifts to ram position, it receives high pressure. The blow is throttled by a restriction in the uid passage and is controlled by the buffer control valve to cause combined power and spring return stroking of the piston.

The control valve `of the buffer is a spring-loaded, spool-type shuttle device. It is pressure operated by fluid supplied thereto at the start of and during the period of transfer tray movement from firing position to ramming position. This valve action functions to close a tank line port in the buffer to prevent -iiuid flow thereto.

The present invention according to a preferred embodiment thereof is well adapted for use with a projectile handling system of a large bore gun such, for example, as an 8 inch unit. It is adapted to provide rapidrate hydraulic-mechanical buhing of the projectile in gun loading and also positioning of the projectile in a =sys tem -of a type adapted to load the transfer trays of the gun slide system at any angle of gun elevation.

A projectile butiing assembly is thus provided wherein the projectile received in the transfer tray of the gun loading system assembly is buifed at substantially the instant of reception in the trans-fer tray and is thereafter positioned in the tray for transfer therewith to ramming position in the gun slide. The control action is accomplished automatically by the valve assembly -of the device. This positioning of the projectile obviates the necessity for cam guide elements for the purpose of guiding and positioning the projectile in its transfer travel to ramming position; when the loading apparatus is of a type wherein the projectile is initially positioned prior to transfer and additionally is maintained in this position in the apparatus a-t any position of the gun assembly in elevati-on.

In the light of the foregoing it is a feature vof the present invention to provide automatic -buing `of projectile increments of the ammunition load and to provide hydraulically `driven positioning of the projectile in the projectile tray after projectile bufng action.

One object of the present invention is the provision of an automatic hydraulic bufling `and positioning device suitable for use in a rapid re gun loading and tiring system wherein improved projectile positioning is carried out at a higher rate, with many of the foregoing disadvantages obviated and which is adapted to perform satisfactorily all the essential bufiing functions of the systems heretofore or now in general use, and moreover the possibility of malfunction of the loading system associated therewith, or failure due to ramming of the projectile against some other part of the assembly is reduced to a minimum.

Another object of the present invention is the provision `of a ,fully automatic projectile bufiing and positioning assembly for receiving and dissipating the inertia of the projectile upon its being rammed into transfer tray after reception from the projectile cradle and in which many of the disadvantages of foregoing systems embodying cam block type positioning devices are o'bviated and which is adapted to perform satisfactorily all the essential positioning functions of systems heretofore or now in general use of the category incorporating blocks or guiding members therein.

An additional object of this invention liefs in the provilies in the attherein for buing the projectile as it is 4received by the projectile transfer tray of the loading system and in which the projectile positioning is automatic and in a predetermined time sequence with respect to the subsequent transfer action of the projectile transfer tray.

An additional object of this invention lies in the provision of an automatic projectile buing and projectile return device whereby projectile buting and return actions are hydraulically controlled without the necessity for manual or additional mechanical intervention.

Still another object of the instant invention iies in the application of hydraulic power and control apparatus to a new and novel device for positioning a projectile for subsequent transfer in response to hurling action by the projectile buffer of the projectile bufiing assembly.

v An additional object of this inventionv lies in the attainment of new and improved projectile positioning after buing action associated with projectile reception in the projectile transfer tray of the gun assembly.

v Another object of this invention lies in the provision of a` projectile positioning device which is combined with the projectile buffer and incorporates elements thereof in accomplishment of projectile positioning and which is arranged in a space conserving structural assembly.

An additional object of this invention lies in the provision of a projectile buffer adapted for use with a rapid re rate gun mechanism of a major caliber turret assembly suchas to provide higher rate buling and positioning of the projectile prior to transfer tray movement.

Another object of the invention lies in the accomplishment of improved means of projectile buing and projectile positioning at a common location and at a position immediately adjacent the transfer tray receiving station.

Additionally it is an object of this invention to provide a bufng system capable of dissipating projectile inertia of varying magnitude resulting from change of position Vof the gun in elevation, and in which satisfactory bung and repositioning action takes place at all angles of gun elevation.

It is also an object of this invention to provide automatic projectile buing and positioning in synchronized time relationship with the action of the powder case handling system of the turret gun.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision of a projectile buffer and positioning assembly in which the elements thereof vare adapted for mounting on the vgun slide assembly andare movable with the gun at all positions of the gun in elevation.

Additional objects and advantages of this invention will be apparentl from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof and the same will be readily appreciated as they become better understood, by reference to the following drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a sectional perspective view of the projectile buffer Vhaving certain parts cut away to show the details thereof;

Fig/2 is a generally schematic view showing the arrangement of the valve element thereof and the hydraulic fluid passage arrangement of the kbuffer interior; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary pictorial view of the projectile butter as mounted on a gun slide assembly and showing the relationship thereof with a transfer tray and lcradle of a gun loading system. Y v

Referring now to Fig. l of the drawings, the projectile buffer cylinder body is shown at 1,'--the buffer head at-`2, and the piston lassociated with the buler head connecting rod at 3. The bung head is provided with a suitable resilient pad at 4 and the connecting rod 5 thereof is in sealed relationship asvprovidedV by the element 6 with the piston body. Thepiston body is internally bored to receive a spring '7, a check valve ball 8 and a -ball stop element@ therein. The assembly additionally includes ua spool type shuttle-arranged ycontrol valve 1t) estada @Partien nfV thecylinder .bofiy-.hqusingrmmediately below the projectile buler head and rod assembly and comprises a valve member 11, a bore at 12 adapted for reception of the spring element 13 and a spring guide backing member 14.

The assembly includes three port connections 15, 16 and 17 wherein outlet port 1S is a connection from the interior of the butter piston-to the sequence valve of a hydraulic system, inlet port 16 is a returnV line from the sequence valve and is adapted to receive tlow therefrom, and the second outlet or drain port 17 is for a line which is adapted to run to the empty case drive unit. A ow restriction element 18, Fig. 2, is provided in the ow passage from line inlet 16 to the buffer interior, additionally, a ow restriction path is provided at 19 in the passage which connects with the fluid chamber surrounding spring 7.

The equipment of the gun system, with which the instant projectile butter is adapted for use, is shown for purposes of illustration in Fig. 3 wherein the projectile bufllng-and-positioning device is shown mounted on the gun slide 2t). The projectile transfer tray 21 is adapted for movement about the pivotal axis thereof at 22. A connecting arm 23 is adapted to provideitray movement from the receiving position thereof, as shown, to a position in axial alignment with the gun bore at 24. The projectile 25 is delivered into the tray 21 by the projectile cradle 26 of the hoist system. This cradle assembly includes a fuze pot 27 adapted for reception of the projectile noise and assembled in a spring lbiased arrangement with spring 28 which is restrained by a backing member shown at 29.

The projectile is released for delivery into the tray by hydraulic disengaging action of the cradle pawl tripping cylinder 30. This action occurs after the cradle is moved up to its discharge position at the gun slide. Electrical-hydraulic controls function to disengage the latch 31 and eject the projectile rearwardly from the cradle to an engaging position with the projectile buffer head at the rear of the transfer tray 21. The projectile buffer thereupon receives and absorbs the inertia energy of thc blow produced thereby and subsequently positions the projectile for transfer action.

In the showing yof Fig. 2 the projectile buffer is in a mid-cycle position, lbut for abetter understanding of thc operation of such a device let it be assumed that the projectile buffer is in its normal position which is forward with respect to a gun and to the right o f that shown in Fig. 2. Initially the unit is conditioned `for the reception of a projectile by having' all fluid passages thereof completely filled. On application atthe buffer head of a force from a projectile, the buffer piston thereof moves rearwardly inl the cylinderbore to close the outlet port of the connection with line 15.l This line which is blocked is normally connected with the upper portion of a sequence 'valve unit as, for example, that described in the opending application to David Wertman hereinabove recited. YOn further movement of the piston against the fluid surrounding thespring 7, in the decelerating charnber thereadjacent vsuiiicient pressure isY built up in the uid displaced therefrom to act on the differential area of the valve. This pressure is aided by spring pressure to open a port thereof to the tank line 17. Y

Following the completion of .the buing or shock absorbing stroke of the projectile .piston the unit receives huid under pressure through line 16. This fluid functions to move the control valves in a manner to close the outlet or drain port V17. Fluid by-passing the valve flows through the restricted orice at 1S into the main body chambers of the projectile buifer. Fluid from this source whichis flowing as shown in the checked pattern ot' Fig. 2 displaces the previously contained fluid 'shown in the stippled ,area in this -iigure and applies pressure thereto to permit flow through the port in the piston head in a manner-tol displace the ,ball-check valve therein to allowtjiow passagerto 4the spring chamber side .of the piston. This high pressure ow functions to displace the piston and the rod and head thereof forwardly to position the projectile in the projectile tray.

As the cylinder head moves forward past the blocked outlet port of line 15 the fluid under pressure is permitted to flow therein to the top valve position of a sequence valve to discontinue ow of uid under high pressure to line 16. Because of the time required to yshift the valve of the sequence valve associated therewith in the operational system therefor, the buffer control valve is not shifted until the buffer has brought the projectile to rest in the projectile tray. The pressure ported by this control and by the sequence valve is introduced into the line 16 to cause the projectile-buffer piston to move the projectile forwardly to its proper position in the projectile transfer tray.

As soon as the buffer stroke has been completed, the return action of pushing the projectile forwardly through its transfer position takes place, wherein fluid is ported into the line 15. This line runs to the head end of the plunger of a valve in the sequence valve to cause valve shifting to a position for the discontinuation of this action. This line, however, is a blocked line at the sequence valve and pressure entering 16 is maintained in line 15 until discontinued. Closing of the port 17 by the spool portion at 11 of the projectile buter valve occurs only as fluid from the sequence valve is ported to the buffer through line 16. This control valve spool 11 is caused to move forwardly or to the right of Fig. 2 under uid pressure built up at the restriction 18, in a manner to close the return port 17 and produce the action which forces the projectile buffer forwardly to position the projectile in the tray.

Pressure ported by the sequence valve control action causes the projectile-buffer piston to move the projectile forwardly to its proper position in the projectile transfer tray of Fig. 3. After positioning action by the projectile buffer-and-positioning device, the projectile is in a position for subsequent transfer by the projectile tray. As the buer head advances against the projectile during the return stroke movement thereof, it functions to push the projectile forward to its transfer position. The buing device head thereafter maintains the projectile against rearward movement during subsequent gun elevational movement, and until projectile position control is taken over by other gun elements during the subsequent operation of the transfer tray.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the invention are possible in the light of the above teachings.

It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claim the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

A buing device comprising a cylinder body unit, an integral piston rod and buffer unit, said piston thereof being slidable in said cylinder body unit, a plurality of hydraulic uid chambers Within said cylinder body unit, an inlet port in fluid communication with said fluid charnbers, a plurality of outlet ports selectably connected to said uid chambers comprising a rst outlet port and a drain line port, a control valve in said cylinder body unit and disposed for movement in a valving relation across said drain line port, spring means for biasing said control valve to a normally open position for said drain line port, said valve having a pair of differential area surfaces with one end thereof normally in fluid communication with said ui-d chambers to provide a drain therefor and the second of said surfaces being disposed in pressure controlled relation to said inlet port to provide drain line port closing of said valve in response to increases in pressure at the greater dierential area in communication with said inlet port, check valve means disposed in the piston of said bulfer unit, spring means in said cylinder and disposed to normally close said check valve and provide biasing for return stroking of said piston, means in said piston disposed to alternately block and port uid to said outlet during predetermined portions of the bufng and return stroking cycles of the piston of said bulfer unit, and a plurality of flow restriction means disposed in said body unit to restrain uid flow to and from said chambers whereby a buing action is provided during a first stroking of said buifer unit and automatic return positioning of said buier unit is accomplished thereafter.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 704,955 Brankston July l5, 1902 789,885 Schneider May 16, 1905 1,656,727 Dawson et al. Jan. 17, 1928 2,261,194 Vickers Nov. 4, 1941 2,379,180 Pohl June 26, 1945 2,410,116 Vickers Oct. 29, 1946 

